A while ago I posted about a gift I got with our boys names on it.
I have no clue where that post is (anyone with skills on finding old post can comment linking people) ;-) – but after Owen was born Aliesha’s mom made the boys name pieces in frames, and I just loved them!

We had family portraits done this past fall – by my dear sweet friend and amazing photographer Laurie Crutchfield.

So after getting time to finally order some prints – I ordered up 11×14’s of the boys – and arranged them with the name pieces Aliesha’s mom did.

I love how it turned out – and I love the fact we have more wall space left ;-)

Caleb hit a stumping point at age 4.. He was very stubborn and didn’t want to do much of anything related to school.
It was one reason why I questioned if Id even be able to home school – Im sure friends of mine who knew my struggle can remember the conversations and frustration I had…

I thought it was just Caleb – until recently… now that Taite is 4 – and Im seeing some of the same things in Taite – that I saw in Caleb at this point.

Its hard to get Taite to participate in our schooling right now.

He does some – but it can be very difficult!

Ive heard from his pre-school teacher (he goes to a private pre-school 2 days a week) – that he many times refuses to do the crafts… he just simply says “I don’t want to” – and has no interested in them what so ever.

Hes never really ugly about it with me – he just isn’t into it.

Im not pushing it – but I recently have been making him do some seat work with Caleb.

Theres no reason why he can’t.

It just may take a little pushing :)

– and the difference this time, he has Caleb as his inspiration – and not just his mom saying “you need to do this” – seeing his older brother do it, is cool… and I think will be an encouragement to him over time to do well.

Im finding ways to make it work :) – although I do prefer the naps – over trying to keep the Owster entertained during that time – the one thing that will keep him entertained however is when the boys say the pledge… or sing. So if im going to incorporate Owen into any of the schooling – it will be during those parts :-) -or- crafts.

Ok, I don’t usually do tags – but I figured, why not…
I was online waiting for an order to process – and had some idle time.

I was tagged by Stef…. so here goes.
Rule #1: the tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

Rule #2: tag 4 people to do this quiz; they cannot refuse (ok, so nothing bad will happen if you don’t participate but I would love to see your answers). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals or are they members of your family?

We HAD a cat – … Id say after she gave me cat scratch that resulted in surgery on my neck costing 6 GRAND and a HUGE 1 inch scar – that she became merely an “animal” – after that – and has since been adopted into a family who I am sure will appreciate her more than I ever could.

As of now we have 1 fish named Spaz, he is a chinese algae eater – he also is just a “fish” :)

2. If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?

My 1st thought, for my lost family members and friends to come to know the Lord…. my 2nd thought, to be able to adopt debt free!

3. What would you do with a billion dollars?

Tithe
Adopt
Buy a home
Pay off any debt we have
Put away college savings for all my children
Put away money for retirement
Donate some to missions and the local church
Buy my parents a home :)
Buy all the camera gear I ever wanted :-D
Help some families in need
and im sure even after all that, with a billion, there would be so much still left.

A billion dollars is A LOT.

4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

Scripture or some sweet snuggles from my boys. Maybe a ladies night out too ;-)

6. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your significant other?

We met each other at my church – he was the youth interim for the summer – I was in the youth group.
We however did not date until I was 18 – a year later. In fact, my husband didnt really look at me as “possible wife material” lol – until a year later, after coming back for a visit.
7. What kind of books do you read?

I know people reading my blog must think I spend hours every day sitting at a computer.
That my kids are neglected and that I have a computer addiction :)

Even my friend commented on the phone how I have so many post go up that its sometimes hard to keep up with.

I wish I had an excuse for my home being mess, and could blame it on my time blogging :) – but in complete honesty here, its not the problem.

I blame the house-disorderlyness that sometimes occur, to the overload of things I have going on.
From business, to church, to home schooling (that takes the free mornings I would typically have!), the dish washing, the cooking of meals, taking a shower! – can you imagine how much I could get done if I didnt have to shower? :) – its just the way it is with 3 kids…

but back to the amt. I blog…

All the post that go up weekly I schedule. For the most part any way. The one about the boys coardboard castle, that was written sunday :) – so was the one with recipes. I have an entire weeks worth of post schedule – and it took me just 1 evening while watching TV with my husband to write them. I then just schedule them for a week. It works great!

Occasionally when I get some free time to just sit… while the baby naps or the boys play nicely – I will sit down and jot off my thoughts… Thats what im doing right now.

I was on one of my favorite home schoolers blog and came across this list below… I wanted to share it.

Today’s Challenge…

“As a minister to your family, what is God’s plan for you as a homeschooler and parent? Take some time today to remind yourself who you are in Christ. (I realize this is geared towards mom’s, but really can be applied to any parent.)”

It was pretty awesome stuff – I read through all the scriptures she mentioned and these stood out to me the most today.

Proverbs 22:6

“6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. ”

Eph. 4:32

“32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ”

2 Cor 12:9-10

“9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ”

Isaiah 26:3

“3 You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. ”

1 Cor 13:4

“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. “